Pneumatic action.



C. G. GILBERG.

PNEUMATIC ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.i7, 1914.

Patsnted May 15, 1917.

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C. G. (iiLBERG.

PNEUMATIC ACTlON.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, I914.

19226;,326, Patented May 15, 1917.

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CHARLES G. GILBERG, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1914. Serial No. 857,013.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (nAnLns G. GiLnnno, a citizen of the United ctates, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic actions, such for example as are used in player pianos and piano players. Actions of this kind, however, may be used for other purposes.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a simple and practical form of pneumatic action of the kind specified; to reduce the number of parts and obtain simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction; to prevent leakage; to obtain quickness and responsiveness and efficiency of action; and to secure the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

While I have herein shown my invention as applied to a pneumatic action for a player piano, it will be understood that the inven tion is capable of other uses. In the arrangement shown, I provide a wind trunk which is preferably of metal, and separate valve casings or holders which are also preferably of metal, and are desirably individual to the several pneumatics. The valve casings or holders are desirably attached to the wind trunk by independent tubular members preferably made of flexible material, such as sections of rubber hose.

The individual valve members or casings contain features of novelty and advantage which will be more fully pointed out in connection with the drawings. Other features of novelty and advantage will also be pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a player piano pneumatic action mechanism involving the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view partially in vertical section, and partially in elevation of a pneumatic and its associated valve casing or holder;

Fig. 41 is a cross section taken on line a' l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and

F 6 is a view of a detail of construction.

In Fig. 1 I show a structure involving side members 1 and 2 which are understood to be suitable supports located at the side of the player piano. To these are secured cross bars or pieces 3, 1 and 5, whicl are secured to the uprights 1 and 2 by screws (3(i. These cross bars 3, 4iand 5 are preferably in the form of metal strips or angle plates, as shown in Fig. 8 with horizontally extending flanges 77. Extending from side to side also are wind trunks 88, which are preferably in the form of tubular metal casings made out of brass or other suitable material. These wind trunks are understood to be connected with a wind inducing apparatus, as for example by forming chambers 9 (Fig. 5) in the uprights 1 and 2, and connecting the same with wind inducing apparatus by means of a tubular connection 1.0 and a tube or pipe 11. Pneumatics 1212 are arranged in rows behind supports 3, 1- and These pneumatics are preferably connected with said supports and supported Patented May 15, 1917. i

by the same through the medium of lugs or strips 1 11l secured to the under sides of the lower leaves 12 of the pneumatics and also secured to the flanges 7 011 the supports 3', at and 5, as by screws 15. Valve casings or holding members 16 are arranged below the pneumatics 12, there being preferably one valve casing for each pneumatic, as well shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These casings are also desirably secured to the pneumatics as by arms 17 formed on the casings and extended up and secured to the under leaves 12 of the pneuinatics by screws 18. These valve casings 16 are also connected with the wind trunks 8 preferably by flexible tubular members 20, such as rubber hose sections adapted to lit over tubular projections 21 on the wind trunks S, and also over tubular projections 22 on the individual valve cas ings. Each valve casing 21 has a duct or passa e 23 communicating with the interior of its associated pneumatic, and has also a 'alvc chamber 21 to which said duct or passage 23 extends. Within the valve chamber 24E is a valve 25 having'a stem 26 of crosslike cross section, as shown in Fig. 6. The valve 25 rests upon a valve seat 27 formed by the upper end of a sleeve or thimble 28. A pouch 29 is arranged below the valve stem 26. A disk 30 is arranged below the pouch 29 and has a threaded connectionwith an annular extension formed on the bottom of the valve casing. A disk 32 has a screw threaded connection with an upper annular ring or portion 33. The disk 32 has an opening or port 34 forming communication between. the outside air and the valve casing A tubular connection 35 preferably in the form of a metallic pipe section is connected with the under side of the disk 30 and this in turn is connected with a flexible tubular member 36 preferably a rubber hose section, which is in turn connected by an elbow 37 with a tube 38 which is understood to be a tracker board tube and to extend to the tracker board.-

"When a music sheet perforation passes over the tracker hoard, allowing air to enter a tube 38, the pouch 29 is elevated, thereby elevating the valve and closing the port 3% and opening the passage to the duct formed by the tubular member whereby the pneumatic is put into connnunication with the wind trunk 8. Assuming the latter is in communication with a wind inducing apparatus continually maintaining a reduced air pressure in the wind trunk 8, the pneumatic 12 will be collapsed.

The pneumatics 12 are connected in some clltilblfi way so that their operation is used in the musical instrument or other apparatus in which the pneumatic action is employed. As one arrangement I show the swinging leaves of the pneumatic provided with strips or lugs l-O, (Fig. '2), and from these members a0 rods 4d are extended downnuirdly and connected with levers 42 which are pivoted at 4:3 and connected at their other ends with other rods a4. These rods a4 extend upwardly and are provided with heads 455 which can be located so as to strike the wippens or other parts of the piano action, thereby making the operation of the pneumatics 1212 effective in playing the piano or performing other services. It will be seen that each pneumatic and its valve mechanism are associated together independently ot the other pneumatics and valve mechanisms, and that each pneumatic with its valve mechanism may be independently removed. This would be accomplished by removing the screws 15 for the pneumatic, and then detaching the valve casing 16 from the wind trunk 8, or from the flexible connector 20. Each valve mechanism may be separated from its pneumatic if desired by removing the screws 18. The hinged portions of the pneumatics 12-412 are arranged above and supported by the wind trunks 88, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a. pneumatic, a valve casing having a flange arranged against the under side of the pneumatic,

and screws passing through said flange and a wind trunk located under and forming a support for one end of said pneumatic.

The combination of a pneun'iatic, a valve casing arranged against the under side of the pneun'ratic, a wind trunk to which said valve casing is detachably connected, said valve casing being arranged near one end of said pneumatic, and said wind trunk being arranged at the opposite end of said pneumatic, and said. wind trunk forming a support for one end of the pneumatic.

3. The combination of a pneumatic, a. valve casing having a. flange arranged against the under side of the pneumatic, screws passing through said flange, and a wind trunk to which said valve casing is detachably connected, said wind trunk being located underneath and supporting the hinged end of the pneumatic.

4c. The combination ot a pneumatic, a valve casing arranged below the pneumatic, a wind trunk and a connection leading to a tracker board. said valve casing having extensions leading to the pncmnatic wind trunk and tracker board respectively, said valve casing also having an extension arranged between the underside of the pneumatic and the valve casing, and a removable washer provided in said last named extension.

7. The combination of a pneumatic, a metallic valve casing located below said pneumatic and detachably secured to the pneumatic, said casing being provided with a tubular projection, valve mechanism in said valve casing for controlling the action of said pneumatic, a metallic wind trunk provided with a laterally extending tubular projection, and a detachable tubular member connecting the tubular projections on said casing and said wind trunk.

(5. The combination of a pneumatic and a valve casing having an upwardly opening air port provided by a removable washer, said valve casing being located below said pneumatic with said air port close to the under side of said pneumatic, and being detachably secured in position, said valve casing being provided with a tubular side portion providing a passage to said pneumatic and extending upwardly from the side of the valve casing and terminating at the side of said air port.

'7. The combination of a pneumatic, means for supporting said pneumatic at an end, means for engaging said support, said means being provided upon said pneumatic, and a valve casing detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic and supported by the same.

8. A valve casing having a removable pouch supporting member at its lower end and a valve above said pouch, and also having a duct or passage for connection with a pneumatic opening upwardly at its upper end, said valve casing also having a laterally extending tubular projection for connection with wind trunk.

9. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting the opposite ends of the pneumatic a valve casing located underneath the pneumatic and supported by the same, and a tracker board tube located underneath the pneumatic and extending to said valve casing.

10. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting the opposite ends of the pneumatic, a valve casing located underneath the pneumatic and supported by the same, and a tracker board tube located underneath the pneumatic and eX- tending to said valve casing, said valve casing being detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic and said tracker board tube being detachably connected with the valve casing.

11. The combination of a pneumatic,means for engaging and supporting the opposite ends of the pneumatic, a valve casing located underneath the pneumatic and supported by the same, a tracker board tube located underneath the pneumatic and extending to said valve casing, said valve casing being detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic and said tracker board tube being detachably connected with the valve casing, and a pneumatic connection for connecting the valve casing and wind trunk, said connection being detachably connected with the valve casing.

12. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting one end thereof, a wind trunk located below and supporting the other end of the pneumatic, and a valve casing located underneath and supported by said pneumatic.

13. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting one end thereof, a win d trunk located below and supporting the other end of the pneumatic, and a valve casing located underneath and supported by said pneumatic, said valve casing being detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic.

14. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting one end thereof, a wind trunk located below and supporting the other end of the pneumatic, and a valve casing located underneath and supported by said pneumatic, said valve cas ing being detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic, and being also detachably connected to said wind trunk.

15. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting one end thereof, a wind trunk located below and supporting the other end of the pneumatic, and a valve casing located underneath and supported by said pneumatic, said valve casing being detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic, and being also detachably connected to said wind trunk, and a tracker board tube connected with said valve casing and located below the same and also below said pneumatic.

16. The combination of a pneumatic, means for engaging and supporting one end thereof, a wind trunk located below and supporting the other end of the pneumatic, and a valve casing located underneath and supported by said pneumatic, said valve casing being detachably secured to the under side of said pneumatic, and being also detachably connected to said wind trunk, and a tracker board tube connected with said valve casing and located below the same and also below said pneumatic, said tracker board tube being detachable from said valve casing.

17. The combination of a pneumatic, a valve casing, a wind trunk, said valve casing and said wind trunk being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of said pneumatic, and a pneumatic connection between the wind trunk and the valve casing, both said valve casing and wind trunk being positioned at one side of said pneumatic and between the ends thereof.

18. The combination of a pneumatic, a valve casing, a wind trunk, said valve casing and said wind trunk being spaced apart from each other longitudinally of said pneumatic, and a pneumatic connection between the wind trunk and the valve casing, both said valve casing and wind trunk being located below said pneumatic.

19. The combination of a pneumatic, a valve casing, a wind trunk, said wind trunk being located at one end of said pneumatic and supporting the same at said end, and a member provided at the opposite end of the pneumatic for supporting said end, said valve casing being supported at one end of the pneumatic and having a connection with the wind trunk at its opposite end.

20. The combination of a pneumatic, a valve casing located below the pneumatic, a wind trunk, said valve casing and said wind trunk being spaced apart from each other longitudinally, also located below the pneumatic and at one side of said valve casing.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of August, A. D. 1914.

CHARLES G. GILBERG. Witnesses A. LYDA J ONES, HAZEL ANN J ONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 1 

